http://www.stanfordinn.com/blog/ Living in Mendocino - Lifestyle and Issues. en Copyright 2008 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:05:25 -0800 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Murder She Wrote.) Visitors to the village at this time of the year drop by the Mendocino Art Center for Tuesday "potlucks" that feature an evening of food, conversation and most importantly a presentation by a selected instructor in the Art Center's summer program. http://www.mendocinoartcenter.org/ If you are in the area, check out the Mendocino Music Festival with performances held in a huge tent on the headlands, just in front of Mendocino's Main Street. http://www.mendocinomusic.com/ The summer is a wonderful time to explore California's formerly developed, but today on the State's last undeveloped estuaries, Big River Estuary. http://stanfordinn.com/blog/Canoeing_Big_River.jpg Harbor seals follow canoes and kayaks up river. On dark nights the phosphorescent algae is amazing giving the sense of stars below the boat as well as above. ]]> http://www.stanfordinn.com/blog/2008/07/wild_fires_gone_1.html http://www.stanfordinn.com/blog/2008/07/wild_fires_gone_1.html News Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:05:25 -0800 Ten days ago a "dry" thunderstorm moved over much of Northern California creating more 1000 wildfires, many in Mendocino County. While Mendocino's "Coast is Clear" has been true the last ten days, many of our neighbors have been beset by smoke and fires. My assistant and our head of projects (building and maintenance) Ryan Rhoades has been off fighting fires until yesterday when we desperately needed him help to put on a large wedding. Ryan reports that the fires across the County have abated as has the smoke in inland valleys. We are happy to report that our partners from Willits through Ukiah and Hopland and into Anderson Valley never closed and are ready to welcome visitors to this incredible County. Tasting rooms and State Parks are open. It has been a hard time for inland residents. We are concerned for them. Many depend on the summer for much of their income - innkeepers, as well as their staffs, and the staffs of restaurants, tasting rooms and other service businesses. Our sympathies go out to all who have been impacted by the fires. We want to encourage readers of this posting to explore Mendocino County, stay with our inland partners and get to know our wonderful vintners and their wines, beautiful parks and wild lands. (Written by Jeff Stanford) http://www.stanfordinn.com/blog/2008/06/wild_fires_abating.html http://www.stanfordinn.com/blog/2008/06/wild_fires_abating.html News Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:40:12 -0800 http://www.u-c-m.org/new/about.php I have been willing to join in marriage any two people who love one another. Last fall two fantastic women came to me to be joined in marriage the next year, October, 2008. Each of these women in their professions served others in their work: they were loving, exceptional people. For whatever reason, we lost contact with them. Then the California Supreme Court decided that same sex marriages were essentially "constitutional" and shortly thereafter two women, a physician and a systems engineer called from Pennsylvania to ask that I preside over their elopement. On the second day following the "legalization" of same sex marriages, I officiated their marriage with one of our staff photographing the event and serving as the witness. The ceremony was in Mancha's Garden under the wedding pergola. There were just the four of us, Amelia and Livia from Pennsylvania, Jill who coordinates weddings for the Inn, and me. Amelia and Livia were very much moved by the ceremony. They cried in celebration of their relationship. The energy from their official marriage was palpable, joyful and overwhelming sweeping Jill and me into its joyfulness. I had never experienced any two people embrace their marriage with such joy. I have married many couples, more than a few who just had chosen to "make it official," or "decided to have children,' or "wanted to celebrate their living together with a wedding." These weddings have been joyful, tearful and moving. But the heterosexual couples could choose whether or not to marry. Two women or two men prior to the California Supreme Court's decision could not choose marriage except in Massachusetts - and that is a huge difference. Livia and Amelia's joy is that of an explosive release, of the achievement and a recognition not possible before. I am using this blog to thank Amelia and Livia - two beautiful people now joined in marriage who taught me so much. I wish you a wonderful, happy and very long life together. Thank you, Reverend Jeff Stanford]]> http://www.stanfordinn.com/blog/2008/06/same_sex_weddings_are_so_much.html http://www.stanfordinn.com/blog/2008/06/same_sex_weddings_are_so_much.html Philosphy Fri, 27 Jun 2008 22:25:53 -0800 http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6602_7-5020355-1.html?tag=lnav Now that cellphones are used not only for telephone calls but also emails, web browsing, music, etc. they tend to run with higher power - SAR levels. For example, the very popular Blackberry Curve operates at 1.54 watts per kilogram, the IPhone at .97, while the new Razr2 V-9 has a SAR rating of .52. Our son used a Blackberry in his work and also as his primary phone. We gave him a Razr2 V9 as his voice phone, reducing the exposure to his head by two thirds, while arranging a second number with data services for the Blackberry. By the way, the radiation form cellphones is associated with acoustic neuroma a non-malignant tumor wrapped around the auditory nerve. If you use a Blackberry, IPhone or other phone with a high SAR rating, go to your provider and get a new lower rated handset to use as a phone and use the high powered device for email and web browsing. ]]> http://www.stanfordinn.com/blog/2008/06/head_care_advice_on_purchasing.html http://www.stanfordinn.com/blog/2008/06/head_care_advice_on_purchasing.html cellphones Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:28:15 -0800 Assignment America on CBS Evening News (5/9/08) reported Lily’s story and noted other exceptional relationships: a mother cat who offered an orphaned fawn to join her litter, a goat who adopted a colt and most remarkable of all, National Geographic filmed a leopard adopting a baby baboon after killing its mother for a meal. The leopard stretched out and nursed the baby. These stories demonstrate the incredible power of the instinct to nurture. It is the same instinct thwarted in even the most “humane” dairies, where cows are not allowed to nurse their calves after birthing them. Perhaps all of us might choose to nurture others. ]]> http://www.stanfordinn.com/blog/2008/05/nurturing_the_miraculous_insti.html http://www.stanfordinn.com/blog/2008/05/nurturing_the_miraculous_insti.html Philosphy Fri, 16 May 2008 18:10:29 -0800 http://drmcdougall.com/. John McDougall is a leader in treating a variety of chronic diseases with diet. If you know someone with MS, you might check out Dr. Roy Swank's site at http://www.swankmsdiet.org/ and for specific recommendations regarding heat disease, check out Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn's site http://www.heartattackproof.com/. All three doctors share a passion for healing and found that the methods they had learned often failed to treat more than symptoms. They sought to reverse disease and increase vitality. Although the Dr. Swank and Dr. Esselstyn are now retired, Dr. McDougall continues his practice in Santa Rosa, California. Follow this blog for additional information regarding the reduction of carbon dioxide and carbon dioxide equivalents by adoption of a vegan, whole foods diet. ]]> http://www.stanfordinn.com/blog/2007/12/keeping_christmas_throughout_t_1.html http://www.stanfordinn.com/blog/2007/12/keeping_christmas_throughout_t_1.html Diet and Disease Food Philosphy Mon, 10 Dec 2007 22:12:03 -0800 We are traveling – first to a wedding in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and exploring vegan restaurants. Halifax is a wonderful city: youthful, yet graced with stone or brick century old buildings. More than vegan friendly, the city offers several vegan restaurants. Not entirely vegan, but “friendly” Mezza on Quinpool Road is Lebanese/Mediterranean. Our daughter and son were to arrive later in the evening and we decided to try their appetizers. We had a three including Foul Mudammas – a tangy dish of fava beans tossed with garlic, mint and fresh lemon with tomatoes and onions; Vegetable Kebbe - samosa-like with a fried dumpling made with potato and cracked wheat and stuffed with spinach, chickpeas, onion and lemon; and, Eggplant created with roasted eggplant, green pepper, red pepper, onion, garlic, tomato, parsley, lemon and olive oil. Not one of these can be claimed our favorite –each excellent, with wonderful flavors – complementing one another. We chose well. - Joan and Jeff Stanford http://www.stanfordinn.com/blog/2007/09/vegan_and_veganfriendly_restua.html http://www.stanfordinn.com/blog/2007/09/vegan_and_veganfriendly_restua.html Diet and Disease Tue, 11 Sep 2007 07:11:34 -0800 VegNews Magazine which advocates a vegan lifestyle. Sometimes our association with VegNews is a source of problems for some of their readers. Our guests and potential guests should know that the Inn reflects that we have not been vegan our entire lives. Last week, spurred by one of their readers, a staff member of VegNews called to ask if we could remove down products for those readers who are vegan. “Of course!” we answered. But this brings us to an essential issue: what to do with existing animal products once we decided to not buy such products. We believe it is irresponsible to not completely use the products we already have. It is difficult and unethical to just trash clean and still useful down pillows, comforters and feather beds. (We wash and dry them in our equipment.) Destroying feather beds and down products does not enhance the life of any animal. In fact it denigrates their lives even more. We have chosen to continue to use these products until replacing them due to wear or until we give them to staff to use them in their homes. Adhering to a philosophy to the extent that it trivializes the gifts of animals to our lives is just wrong.]]> http://www.stanfordinn.com/blog/2007/08/an_issue_of_feathers.html http://www.stanfordinn.com/blog/2007/08/an_issue_of_feathers.html Philosphy Sat, 18 Aug 2007 21:27:35 -0800 This spring, master gardener Kate Frey took a six week leave of absence from the Inn to create Fetzer Winery’s sustainable wildflower garden at London’s annual Chelsea Garden Show. She was awarded gold! Until last year when Fetzer Winery’s owners closed it, Kate ran Fetzer’s Valley Oak Gardens. Kate is also a superior garden designer and lectures on gardening throughout Northern California. Kate emailed from England: “People, said over and over, ‘now this is the people’s garden- not like those fancy things across the road.’ ‘It is so uplifting’ and ‘it invites one in to supper.’ ‘I feel like crying,’ ‘This is my favorite, and your last garden was my favorite also.' ‘So different than those depressing blues and purples' and ‘I saw it on the telly (TV) last night and I rushed in to see it.’" She continued, “Natures bright colors, the artlessness of the flowers, the naturalistic aspect, the fact all the plants were weeds or wildflowers, but perhaps most of all, the spirit that the team created manifested itself as a place that peoples hearts could enter and walk the path, and participate in the glorious atmosphere.” http://www.stanfordinn.com/blog/2007/07/inns_kate_frey_wins_gold_for_f.html http://www.stanfordinn.com/blog/2007/07/inns_kate_frey_wins_gold_for_f.html Sun, 01 Jul 2007 23:07:24 -0800 This morning, some of our staff turned on VH1 for background music. I walked in when Criss Angel was introducing Ozzy Osbourne during the Rock Honors Awards show. He carried a small terrarium with a white mouse exploring his plastic house. Angel reached in grabbed the mouse, put it to his mouth and bit the mouse’s head off. He spit the head across the stage. The audience roared. What was left of the mouse hung lifelessly in Angel’s hand. We checked the internet and there were different people’s reaction to this act – some believe it had to be an illusion. We believe it should not have been aired at all – if it is a joke, no one seems to be in on it. We were appalled. We called Direct TV who provides TV for the Inn and had VH1 and its parent station MTV removed from the stations the Inn provides its guests, replacing them with National Geographic and a Discovery Channel. We believe that there is enough violence in the world and we don’t want to encourage it and sacrificing a helpless and totally dependent creature is encouraging violence. Specifically, we all should be grossed-out by a mouse’s decapitation – a mouse totally dependent on it handler – on one of us. http://www.stanfordinn.com/blog/2007/05/mouse_abuse_and_vh1_mtv.html http://www.stanfordinn.com/blog/2007/05/mouse_abuse_and_vh1_mtv.html Tue, 29 May 2007 18:41:01 -0800 Mendocino Firsts – GMO’s; Organics, and Sustainable Practices Mendocino County Firsts Mendocino County was the first county within the United States to ban growing genetically modified organisms (GMO’s). Mendocino County also boasts the oldest organic winery in the United States, Lolonis Winery in Redwood Valley - http://www.lolonis.com/. The County is home to the Stanford Inn by the Sea which embraced sustainable practices bringing organic farming to the Inn’s grounds in 1985. The farm has expanded and is a major focus of activity for both staff and guests. Furthermore, not satisfied with just organic farming, the Inn added The Ravens' Restaurant the areas first vegetarian restaurant serving a menu which is 99% organic. The Ravens' seeks to bring vegan and vegetarian dining into the mainstream by serving excellent food in the context of fine dining. The Wine List won an Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator and features primarily organic wines or those produced from organic or sustainably produced grapes. There is a full bar in the Inn's lobby. In addition, The Stanford Inn works with John Jeavons of Ecology Action to develop a sustainable standard based on the health of the soil. http://www.growbiointensive.org/ Catch A Canoe & Bicycles, too! In concert with the emphasis on sustainable lifestyles, the Stanfords provide activities that do not require fuels. Catch A Canoe provides canoes, kayaks and outriggers to explore Big River Estuary which flows through a canyon forming one of the State’s newest parks. The Estuary is undeveloped and uncluttered. There is no development along its shores and except for an abandoned quarry, and remnant of 150 year old logging operations, the canyon and estuary are pristine. At & Bicycles, too! the Stanfords provide mountain bikes for exploring Mendocino Coast’s back road and abandoned logging roads. Taken together Catch A Canoe & Bicylces, too! is the center for sustainable tourism in Northern California. http://catchacanoe.com/innlight/adventure.html ]]> http://www.stanfordinn.com/blog/2007/05/mendocino_firsts_gmos_organics_1.html http://www.stanfordinn.com/blog/2007/05/mendocino_firsts_gmos_organics_1.html Fri, 18 May 2007 21:01:45 -0800 Introduction: The Mendocino Lifestyle is predominately "green." We define it as an effort to bring thoughtfulness, mindfulness, to the small decisions we make every day. This blog concerns chronic diseases. It is also the story of the former owner of this lodge. We are vegan and adopting a vegan lifestyle is the single most important change one can make toward sustainability. This blog is provides another reason for adopting a vegan lifestyle. In addition, many of our guests have wanted copies of the orginal article written in our newsletter. It is here for them. Diet and Disease A close friend died as a result of contracting histoplasmosis a disease endemic to the eastern and central U.S. There, as many as 80% of the people test positive for exposure. Suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, our friend was treated with infusions of two drugs that suppress the immune system. One of the drugs, Remicade, is known to lower resistance to fungal infections. Reviews of the drug include a warning that where histoplasmosis is common, patients and their doctors must consider the benefits and risks before using it. Coastal California is not known for this disease;however, she went to Mexico where the disease is common. We wondered if a safer product might have been available to prevent such a catastrophic outcome. We read about aspirin, Vitamin D, and more. But most stunning was the role of diet. First, we learned that most autoimmune diseases can be attributed to diet or at best are exacerbated by diet. Second, the most common culprits are proteins found in foods and their interactions with the human immune system. Clues to the role of diet in a variety of diseases include: 1. Lupus is rare in rural Africa, yet African-Americans have the highest incidence of lupus. 2. Albania, Europe’s poorest country with a poor diet by Western standards, has the longest life expectancy in eastern and central Europe. 3. Further, Albanians living in the southwest who subsist primarily on a diet of fruits and vegetables are half as likely to die from heart attack as their countrymen who live in the northeast and subsist on a dairy based diet. 4. People in Asia and Africa subsisting on traditional diets have a very low incidence of the various forms of arthritis afflicting those on a western diet. 5. Multiple Sclerosis is rare in Asia and Africa; however Asians and Africans who have adopted a western diet are as susceptible as are European 6. Atherosclerosis is rare in populations eating traditional diets in Asia and Africa and, again, Asians and Africans on a western diet are as afflicted as Europeans. Other diseases may very well be the result of atherosclerosis. 7. Finally, long ago Jeff was struck by the diets of various indigenous people he studied as an anthropologist. With the exception of Inuit and some northern peoples, most traditional diets were based on seeds, grains and fruit. For example, the Pomo who once occupied Mendocino County subsisted primarily on acorns supplementing their diet with dried salmon, seaweed (for salt), berries and collected shell fish during their seasonal forays to the coast. For many people, meat was for festivals. Third, we were impressed by the fact that dietary changes can effectively reduce or eliminate the symptoms of these and other chronic diseases. The implications are enormous. A low fat, whole foods vegan diet will often reverse the effects of Multiple Sclerosis according to Dr. Roy Swank formerly the head of the Division of Neurology of the University of Oregon Medical School. Dr. John McDougal and Dr. Dean Ornish recommend low fat vegan diets for treatment of variety modern afflictions including prostrate problems, heart disease, arthritis, and MS. The process of how diet contributes to allergies is complex. For those who want to know more we suggest that you check out Dr. John McDougal’s web site – http://www.drmcdougall.com. McDougall provides a thorough documented description of the inflammatory process as well as well documented dietary guidelines. At the Ravens we are challenging ourselves to develop recipes which enhance the immune system at the same time they satisfy our western tastes. All material -Copyright - Stanford Inn]]> http://www.stanfordinn.com/blog/2007/05/diet_arthritis_lupus_ms_and_al.html http://www.stanfordinn.com/blog/2007/05/diet_arthritis_lupus_ms_and_al.html Diet and Disease Thu, 03 May 2007 18:57:01 -0800 pleasure is found in balance, in working with nature, respecting bio-diversity, local cultural heritage and practice. Beyond this the Slow Food Movement respects distant cultures and heritage. For example, many of us drink coffee, which has long been a part of Western culture, but does not grow in Northern California. In respect of the traditional cultures where coffee is grown, we specify fair trade, organic coffees for our blends. When we first opened the Ravens, we created a "trademark," - Inspired by our Certified Organic Gardens -. We were also inspired by locally crafted and harvested foods including sea palm, wild mushrooms, and foraged foods such as miner's lettuce, huckleberries, and blackberries. What we have learned over the years is that what matters are the small decisions in the purchasing and preparing food: which oils to use, what produce, spices and herbs. We carefully select only the finest, healthful organic ingredients. We are dedicated to creating cuisine based on seasonal regional ingredients and basing our flavors on organic herbs grown here. THis is an important aspect of Slow Food. But this concept cannot end in the kitchen, but must be represented in every aspect of what we do. We continue to reexamine all that we do including all the products we use in order to present to our guests and Inn experience based on a series of small decisions, each in line with what is best for guests and for the environment. Long ago we discovered that these are mutually inclusive goals. We thank you for respecting this work.]]> http://www.stanfordinn.com/blog/2007/04/slow_food_and_conscious_touris.html http://www.stanfordinn.com/blog/2007/04/slow_food_and_conscious_touris.html Food Mon, 23 Apr 2007 23:53:50 -0800